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Azimuth

Festival overview

About Azimuth

Physical film festival with submission categories including Full-length feature films and Animated films.

Welcome to the AZIMUTH International Film Festival — where cinema doesn’t just tell stories; it changes the angle of perception. In navigation, azimuth is not a destination — it’s a direction.

In cinema, it’s the creative bearing chosen by a filmmaker. We are not interested in well-trodden paths.

We are looking for bold new routes. AZIMUTH is a compass for contemporary cinema, based in the heart of Moscow.

We exist to discover, support, and celebrate films defined by a unique authorial vision and artistic courage. Our mission is to create a dynamic platform where fearless debutants and established masters meet in dialogue — united not by where they have been, but by where they are heading.

We are searching for films that: • Set a new creative vector and redefine cinematic language. • Explore urgent themes through an unexpected, sharp lens. • Possess a strong directorial voice and uncompromising originality. • Demonstrate artistic integrity and mastery of craft. • Dare to experiment with form and narrative. Our curated competition programs — Feature Films, Documentary Films, Short Films, and Animated Films — are dedicated to works that act as true navigational tools.

They don't provide easy answers; they ask the right questions, charting courses through the complex oceans of human emotion, social upheaval, and personal discovery. If your film is a journey, not just a product; if it seeks to recalibrate the viewer's compass and reveal new coordinates of meaning — then you have found your festival.

Choose your direction. Let’s redraw the map of cinema together.

AZIMUTH. Cinema that changes the angle of vision.

Schedule

Important Dates

Call for Entries Opens
Apr 5, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Sep 26, 2026
Notification Date
Sep 30, 2026
Festival Starts
Oct 26, 2026
Festival Ends
Oct 30, 2026
Recognition

Awards & Prizes

Best Film in the competitionmost radically and consistently upholds its unique authorial vision, form, or themeBest DirectingBest ScreenplayBest Cinematography (in Fiction and Documentary competitions) /Best Animation and Visual Design (in Animation competition)Best Music or Sound DesignBest Acting (in Fiction competitions) / Prize for
Eligibility

Rules & Eligibility

General Rules+
  1. PREAMBLE AND OBJECTIVES

  2. 1. The AZIMUTH International Film Festival (hereinafter – the Festival) is established to discover, support, and promote cinematic works possessing a unique authorial vision and artistic boldness.

  3. 2. The Festival positions itself as a compass in the contemporary film process, focusing on works that set new directions, explore urgent themes from unexpected angles, and introduce new names.

  4. 3. The Festival's mission is to create a platform in Moscow for dialogue between bold debutants and established masters, where value lies not in the path traveled, but in the direction chosen.

  5. ORGANIZATION AND DATES

  6. 1. The Festival is held with the support of the "Antares" TV channel, a consortium of creative organizations, and film art professionals.

  7. 2. Dates: October

  8. 30,. Venue: Russian Federation, Moscow.

  9. 4. Working languages of the Festival: Russian and English.

  10. COMPETITION PROGRAMS The Festival consists of four main competitions

  11. 1. Animation Competition * Runtime

  12. 15 minutes. * Works in all animation techniques are accepted.

  13. 2. Documentary Film Competition * Runtime: up to 30 minutes. * Priority is given to films with a strong authorial stance and innovative language.

  14. 3. Short Fiction Film Competition * Runtime: up to 20 minutes. * Works of all genres are accepted.

  15. 4. Feature Film Competition * Runtime

  16. 120 minutes. * Feature-length fiction works are accepted. The key criterion is the originality of the director's statement.

  17. CONDITIONS AND

  18. SELECTION CRITERIA

  19. 1. General Conditions: * Films completed after January 1, 2025 are eligible. * Preference is given to world

Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees

Category

Full-length feature films

We seek feature-length films that undertake an artistic journey — works where a grand vision charts the course, and every directorial choice becomes the azimuth.

Current Fee
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 120 minutes
Category

Animated films

We invite animated films where a singular artistic vision explores the world from an unexpected angle, charting a course towards new coordinates of emotion and meaning.

Current Fee
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 20 minutes
Category

Documentaries

We seek documentary films that act as precise creative compasses — works that explore the urgent territories of reality from a fundamentally new angle, charting routes to unconventional truths.

Current Fee
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

Short films

We invite short films that redefine perspectives — bold cinematic inquiries that chart a new course and cut through familiar subjects with a sharp, original edge.

Current Fee
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 20 minutes